Pyrophoric lighting mechanism



Filed Aug. 24. 1935 L V ARONSON PYROPHORIC LIGHTING MECHANISM Patented Oct.` 25, 1938 PATENT OFFICE PYRorHonlo LIGHTING MECHANTSM Louis V. Aronson, Newark, N. J., assignor to Art Y Metal Works-Inc., ra corporation of New Jersey Application August 24, 1935, Serial No. 37,645V 4 claims. (c1. S7-4.1)

` Myinvention relates to pyrophoric lighters of the type comprising a torch utilizable for actuating the` lighter mechanism' to thereby produce the character hereinafter described and claimed.

For an understanding of fmy invention andfor an illustration thereof, reference is had tothe accompanying drawing, in which;

` Figure 1 is a vertical, sectional View, partly in elevation, of mynovel pyrophoric Alighting mechanism; Y A

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the arrangement ,shown inFig.1; "A I s Fig. 3 is a transverse, horizontalfsetional View, partly in inverted plan, and is takenl o n the line 3-f3 of Fig. l looking in the'direction ofthe arrows; f f i Fig. 4 is atransverse, vertical sectional'view, partly in elevation, of my novel mechanism;` Figs. 5 and ,6 are sectional views, partly in elevation, showing novel torches as constructed in accordance with the invention; and s I Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, detailed view'iuustrating a modification of a part 'of' mynovel mechanism. A V

As` shown on the drawing, the device of my inventionY comprises a base I adapted to rest upon 40' any suitable supporting surface, `said base preferably having a sheet offelt 2 adhesivelyA or otherwise suitably secured to the lower surface thereof. Secured to and upstanding from the base I are a pair of vertical standards 3 to which a top plate 4 is suitably secured, as by the screws 5. As illustrated, the mechani'srn of i my invention is disposed interio-rly o f Yancasing `6 which,

if desired, may havean upper surface engaged by theperiphery of the plate 4 'and a lower wangedsurf'ace 6a resting upon the'base I. The shape of this casing 6 is clearly shown in Figs. 4 inclusive. It" shall be understood that such casing may be of ,other suitable configuration and otherwise arranged as maybe desirable.

suitably secured, as" by the screws 1, to the lower surface of the plate 4 is a secondary plate 8 which forms the direct support for the various actuating members `hereinafter described.

As shown in Fig. 4, the plates 4 ,and 8 are aps ertured to provide a passage through which ex-Y 5- tends the threaded upper end of aV vertical vtubu lar member 9 having a flange 9a engaging the lower surface of the plate 4. Secured to said upper end of the member 9 is a nut II] threaded against the upper surface of the top plate 4 and .10 which serves, therefore, in conjunction with the flange 9a., to anchor the tubular member 9 in vertical position as shown. 1

As disclosed on the drawing, the tubular memy ber 9 serves as a support for a fuel casing II l5 which, as shown,vis filled with a mass ofcotton I2 or other absorbent material, fuel, such as high test gasoline, being Vintroduced in suitable manner into said fuel casing, as by passage through the opening normally closed by the clo-V 20 Vsure cap I2a. As stated, the tubular member 9 supports the fuel casing II and, to this end, said fuel casing I I may comprise an upwardly extending tubular extension'l Ia, to which thelower end of the tubular member 9 is threaded. Further, 25 it is desirable that the fuel casing I I, in alinement With the extension Ila, be formed with a downwardly lextending tubular extensionfllb utilize able for anchoring in vertical position any suitable tubular structure I3 of felt, cotton or the 30 like. The tubular structure I3 is adapted to reeeive or cooperate with the lower end of a torch T and, more particularly, said tubular structure I3, if desired, may be of the detailed character disclosed in U. `S. Letters'Patent No. 1,986,754. 35

As shown inFig. 4, a pair of spaced frame members I4, I5 are disposed in parallel relation below the plates Il` `and 8, the frame member I4, preferably, being formed integrally with the plate 8 and the frame member I5 being suitably' an- 40 chored, as by soldering, in the positionshown in Fig. 4. Y

The aforesaid frame members Idand I5 Vsupport a horizontal pin or member I6 on whichfa sleeve I1 is disposed for free rotatable movement, 45 this sleeve having a rst projecting lever arm I8 secured `thereto and said lever arm, in turn, having a lateral lpin Ia` projecting therefrom. As shown in Fig. '1, a second projecting lever' arm I9 is formed integrally with the. lever arm 50 I8, the remote end of said lever arm I9 having a pinand-slot connection with a` reciprocatory actuating bar 20, the lower end of which is freely slidableV in a lateral extension I5a of thev aforesaid frame member I5, the upperl section of'said 55 actuating bar being freely slidable in alined openings formed in the plates 4, 8, the extreme upper end of said actuating bar 20 terminating in a lateral bifurcated section 28a formed with a slot 2812, Fig. 2. In accordance with the invention, the actuating bar 26 should be biased in an upward direction and,'to this end, there may be utilized a spring 2l which is confined between the frame member extension I5a and a shoulder formed on the actuating bar 26, Fig. 1. Freely rotatable on the aforesaid sleeve I1 at one end thereof is a second sleeve 22 to which a disk 23 is secured for rotatable movement therewith.

Projecting laterally from a forward section of this disk is a. pin 23a to which one end of arf coiled spring 24 is secured, the other end of said spring being secured to the aforesaid pin I8a.

The aforesaid frame member I5 comprises a rearward extension I5b which carries a lateral pin 25 to which, at the end of a spacing sleeve 26, a pawl 21 is pivoted, the pawl being biased in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig.. 1, by a suitable spring 28. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, this pawl is adapted to be maintained by the spring 28 in clutching relation with a lateral section 23h of the aforesaid disk 23.

The pawl 21 comprises a section 21a, Fig. 1, adapted, as hereinafter described, to be engaged by a nose I8b of the aforesaid lever arm I8 whereby said pawl 21 is rocked in clockwise direction, Fig. 1.

The aforesaid disk 23 is of such diameter that it extends thru alined slots formed in the plates 4 and 8, said disk 23 terminating above the latter in a gear segment 23e disposed in meshing relation with a pinion 29 freely rotatable on a horizontal pin or member 30 mounted in fixed position in any suitable manner. Thus, for example, one end of the pin 30 may be mounted in an integral section 3| of the aforesaid 4plate 8, said section 3l being formed as a standard which projects upwardly through a passage formed in the plate 4. The other end of theV pin 30 may be mounted in a sectionV I 5c of the frame member I5, said section I5c projecting upwardly through alined slots formed in the plates 4 and 8.

v In accordance with the form of the invention herein disclosed, the aforesaid pinion 29 is mounted on and rotatable with the hub 32a of a-ratchet wheel 32, this ratchet wheel 32-and its hub being freely rotatable and also freely movable longitudinally on the aforesaid pin 30. As shown in Fig. 4, a helical spring 33, disposed around the pin 30, is utilized to bias the ratchet wheel 32 in a direction from left to right, Fig. 4.

Rotatably disposed on the pin 36 is a hub 34a of a second ratchet wheel 34, this hub 34o'. carrying, for rotative movement therewith,a wheel 35 having a serrated or roughened face coactable with a pyrophoric element 36 projecting in part from a tube 31 extending downwardly through the plates 4 and 8 and being anchored, preferably, to the aforesaid frame member l5. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the lower end of the tube 31 has a cap nut 38 threaded thereinto, this nutmaintaining under compression a helical spring, not shown, which is disposed within the'tube 31 and which biases the pyrophorc 'element 36 into engagement with the serrated wheel 35.

The ratchet wheels 32 and 34 are provided with surfaces disposed transversely of the pin 38, these surfaces facing each other and being provided, respectively, with sets of ratchet teeth which coact with each other as indicated in Fig. 2. These sets of ratchet teeth are so arranged that, during movement of the pinion 28 in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 1, said pinion idles with respect to the serrated wheel 35. However, during movement of the pinion 29 in a clockwise direction, Fig. 1, the sets of ratchet teeth are in clutching relation and, therefore the serrated wheel 35 is caused to move with the pinion 29 during clockwise movement of the latter.

As clearly appears from a consideration of Fig. 2, the lateral section 20a of the actuating bar ,20 and particularly the slot 26h thereof is disposed in alinement with the lateral axis of the serrated wheel 35. Accordingly, when said lateral section 20a is depressed into its lowermostl position, as hereinafter described, it results that said lateral section 20a is in the direct path of sparks produced by action of the serrated wheel 35 on the pyrophoric element 36.

As illustrated, the sparking means described above is covered by a casing 39 which is suitably secured to the plate 4, as by the screws 40. This ca'sing, between said sparking means and the actuating bar 20, is open so as to permit free passage of the pyrophoric sparks from right to left, Fig. 1.

l' A torch of any suitable character may be used for actuating the herein described mechanism. At present, however, a torch T of the general character disclosed in Figs. 4 and 5 is preferred.

As shown, the torch T comprises a handle section 4I provided preferably with a knurled head 4Ia. Disposed interiorly of and projecting from one end of the handle section 4I is a sleeve 42 having a peripheral iiange 42a engaged by an interior shouldered surface of a cap member 43 which may be freely moved over the surface of the sleeve 42 and then threaded to the lower end of the handle section 4 I. Threaded to the interior surface of the sleeve 42 is a second sleeve 44 which, at its lower end, is attached to one end of a wick 45 of any suitable type, for example, as well known in the pyrophoric lighter art, this wick, as shown, being adapted to extend slightly beyond the lower surface of the sleeve 42, which is provided with a shoulder 42h forming a neck of restricteddiameter for the end of said wick. In accordance with the invention, the handle section 4I is utilized to move the sleeve- 44 interiorly of and with respect to the sleeve 42. To this end, any suitable arrangement may be utilized such, for example, as herein exemplified by the square or other polygonal rod 46 fixed to the handle section 4I and which extends, in freely slidable relation, interiorly of a passage of corresponding coniiguration formed interiorly of the sleeve 4.

, As will readily be understood, the above noted cap member 43 prevents longitudinal movement of the sleeve 42 with respect to the handle section 4I while permitting free rotative movement of said sleeve and handle section with respect to each other. Accordingly, the exposed surface of the sleeve 42 may be held in the lingers of one hand while rotating the handle section 4I, this operation causing the sleeve 44 and the therebycarried wick 45 to be so moved that the wick end is moved either into or out of the lower neck section of the sleeve 42. With such an arrangement, the length of the protruding Wick section may be adjusted with nicety and, as the wick burns away, new surfaces thereof may be exposed for use as desired. Obviously, such an arrangement is highly desirable because rendering the use of a long wick practical, in a torch of the in'ga relatively large quantity offuel.

- 11n the modified form `of torch TI shownin Fig. 6, there is provided a handle section 48 having a' `serrated operating surface 48a.

One end of a l sleeve 49 is received in a passage formed in one frs end of said handle section, this sleeve being secured to the handle section for rotatable movement only by a sleeve nut 50, the latter engaging a shouldered surface 49a of the sleeve 49 as shown. Disposed interiorly of the sleeve 49 is a tubular wick 5I formed of suitable material as known to the art. Secured to the handle section 48 is a rod 52 of square or other polygonal configuration, this rod extending interiorly and'longitudinally` of thewick El in close-fitting relatio and being Vof somewhat greater length than the sleeve 4Q; The latter, namely,fthe sleeve 49 is provided, adjacent its lower end, with interior screw threads 49b, thesethreads being closely engaged by the wick 5I. The wick 5I normally projects beyond the lower end of the sleeve 49 to `some extent as indicated. When it` becomes desirable to advance or retract said wick, the sleeve 49 is held by the fingers of one hand and the-handle section 48 isV turned in one direction or the other. 'I'he rod 52 turns with the handle section 48 and the wick 5I turns with said rod 52. The rod 52 lcrowds the exterior sur-` face of the wick 5I against` the threads 49b and, since said wick turns with respect Vto the stationary threads 49h, it results that the wick is either retracted oir-,advanced as desirable.

With axtorch TI, the vlower end engages a cup-shaped member or other part carried by the actuating bar 2U, or equivalent.` With a torch T, theshoulder 42h, or equivalent, engages a surface defining a recess in the actuating bar. Asv will clearly appear, the wick end of the torch T to be ignited is` disposed, ordinarily, be-

` low the lateral section 20a Aof the actuating bar whereas with the torch TI, the ignitible wick endl defining said 'slot Zlib. Thereuponthe applica? tion of downward pressure to the torch T causes the` actuating bar 2|] tobe moved downwardly from the position thereof `shown inFig. 1. In so,

doing, thelever arm arrangement I8, I9 is swung in a counter-clo'clm/isey direction, Fig.` 1, With'lthe result that the `pin Illa recedes from the nose 23d of thev disk 23 to thereby substantially increase the tension of the spring 24. -As stated, this'spring ,24 is connected to the lever arm arrangement'lB, I9 and also to the disk 23 but increase in tension of the spring 24 as just described does not'cause of the lmi 52 `to said pawl 21 by the leverf arm nose |812, the pawl 21 is swung clockwise from the position shownin Fig. 1 to thereby release the disk 23 at its lateral section ,23h so that the latter moves counter-clockwise,- Fig. 1, with a snap action under the influence of the energy just stored in the spring 24- as described above. This counter- `clockwise movement of the disk 23 continues until y thenose 12311 thereof again comes into engage,- ment with the pinfla. i

When the above described counter-clockwise movement of the disk 23loccurs, the lower end of the torch T has moved to such a position that it is only slightly above theupper plate 4 of the herein described mechanism, said lower end of the torch T, at this time, being in the direct path of sparks produced by laction of the serrated Vwheel'lti on the pyrophoric element 36.

vThe sparks just referred to are produced by the herein described snapping movement of the disk 23 in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 1. Said vdisk 23-,`when moving'in the direction last noted,

causesthe pinion 29 to partake of a step of clockwise movement, Fig. l. When the pinion 29 thus moves, the ratchet faces of the members 32 and 25 3f-l are in clutching relation and, therefore, the

any desired purpose. ,"Ihus, the flaming torch may be utilized for the ignition of cigars, cigarettes, pipes, gas burners, etc., etc., and, in so doing, the torch may be passed from hand to hand as desired.` Whenthe torch Thas served its intended purpose, it maybe re-inserted'in the tubular 4memberf; either before or after the ame at the lower wick end has been extinguished although, preferably, such flame is extinguished prior-to re-insertion of the't'orch T in the tubular member 9. i p 1 As soon `as the torch T is removed from, the

lateral end 20a of the actuating bar 2li, the various parts automatically return'to their respective normal positions as shown-on the drawing. Thus, the spring 2|, which previously had been compressed in response to downward movement of the actuating bar, 2G, is released for expansion. When thus expanding, the spring 2l elevates the bar 2!) to its normal position as shown in Fig. '1,

thelever arm arrangement i8, I9 and the disk 23 moving substantially as'f a unit in. a clockwise direction, Fig. l, until these parts have returned to their respective' positions shown in Fig. 1. Vihile thus moving the pin I remains in en- Y gagement with the nose 23d of disk 23 and, eventually', at'the conclusion ofsuch return movement, the pawl 2l returns to latching position with'respect to the lateral section 23h of the disk 23. b l

v AVihen the disk 23`n`1oves clockwise to its normal position as shown in Fig. l, counterclockwise movement Fig. 1, is imparted to the pinion 29.v

Yof the spring 33.

In the manner noted above, the various parts are returned to their respective normal positions as shown on the drawing and, when thus normally positioned, the device is in condition for subsequent operation which occurs in the manner hereinbeiore described in detail when the actuating bar 20 is again depressed by the application of pressure thereto by the torch T.

An important feature of the present invention relates to the arrangement wherein the lower necked end of the torch T is adapted to be passed into and through a recess such as the recess 20h shown in Fig. 2, the shoulder 42h coming into engagement with the surface defining said recess. With an arrangement of this character, the lower wick end is disposed in the path of the pyrophoric sparks in a very advantageous manner.

In Fig. 2, the opening in the lateral section 20a forming the bifurcation is smaller than the diameter of the sleeve neck section below the shoulder 42h. Therefore, said neck section may not be passed laterally through said opening. In Fig. '7, a modiiied construction is shown wherein a lateral section 20d of the actuating bar is provided with a V-shaped notch adapted to have the shouldered -end 42d of a torch sleeve passed laterally thereinto, the arrangement being such that the torch sleeve, when thus positioned, has its associated wick in the direct path of sparks projected from the adjacent serrated wheel 35.

Another important feature of the present invention relates to the ratchet arrangement for effecting unidirectional movement of the serrated wheel 35. This is accomplished without requiring the use of the customary pivotedpawl. The two ratchet surfaces disclosed herein cooperate in an advantageous manner to drive the serrated wheel and, due to the fact that the ratchet member 32, 32a together with the thereby-carried pinion 29 are readily slidable on the member 30, it results that the necessary idling action is necessarily obtained. In short, the disclosed ratchet mechanism is simple, efficient and reliable. It fullls all requirements in a very satisfactory manner.

Supplementing the foregoing, it is to be noted that the arrangement of, the sparking means, actuating bar and torch receptacle (tubular member 9) is advantageous and-desirable. The mechanical arrangement is of a simplified type, the configuration of the casing and the supporting arrangement therefor are desirable from the purchasers viewpoint and also from the manufacturing viewpoint, and, in addition, there are other detailed improvements as will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Y

While the invention has been described with respect to certain particular preferred examples whichgive satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modications.

f Whatois'claimedas new and desired to be securedby Letters Patent is:

1. A lighter construction, comprising a receptacle, a rotatable sparking wheel,apyrophoricmem ber bearing against said wheel, a depressible actuating member extending upwardly from said receptacle adjacent said wheel, mechanism Within said receptacle and operable upon depression of said actuating member to cause said wheel to rotate and thereby project sparks, a torch engageable with said actuating member to depress the latter, said torch having a wick for protruding from its lower extremity into the path of said sparks, said torch also having a rigid shoulder portion just above the protruding portion of the wick, the upper end of said actuating member having a transversely extending portion overhanging the path of said sparks and formed to embrace said shoulder portion with the lower tip of the wick depending into said path of the sparks as said actuating member is depressed by said torch.

2. A lighter construction, comprising pyrophoric sparking mechanism for projectingI a stream of sparks, a depressible member for actuating said mechanism, said member having a portion overhanging the path of said sparks, and a torch engageable with said portion to depress said member, said torch having a wick downwardly protruding at its lower extremity and also having a rigid shoulder just above such protrudingwick portion, said overhanging portion be- .ingformed to embrace said shoulder, with the wick depending into said path of the sparks as said actuating member is depressed by said torch. 3. A lighter construction, comprising pyrophoric sparking mechanism for projecting a stream of sparks, a depressible member for actuating said mechanism, said member having a Aportion overhanging the path of said sparks, a torch engageable with said portion to depress said lformed to embrace said shoulder, with the wick depending into said path of the sparks as said actuating member is depressed by said torch, and means for adjustably securing the wick within said torch, with the wick protruding a predetermined desired distance below said shoulder,

4. In pyrophoric lighting mechanism, acasing, a detachable cover therefor, a pyrophoric sparking mechanism assembly mounted on said cover and partially within said casing, a tubular member extending down through and depending from said cover, a fuel container within said casing below said mechanism and supported solely by said tubular member and communicating therewith, and a torch adapted to be removably supported within said tubular member with the lower end of said torch received in said fuel container, said torch, when removed from said tubular member, serving as an operating means for said pyrophoric sparking mechanism, said mechanism, tubularmember and fuel container being removable from the casing as an assembled unit carried by said cover.

1 Y LOUIS V. ARONSON. 

